DANBURY - Two local women, one a traumatic brain injury survivor, the other an author and stress and weight reduction coach, will be putting their feet to the test while benefiting two post-12/14 causes when they take to the floor September 9 for the "Brookfield Dancing Stars" competition.Dancing with the Stars. Then, a panel of celebrity judges along with the audience will select a winner who will win the event's "mirror ball trophy," and a cash prize to be added to fundraising efforts for the charity of their choice.The Tapping Solutionbestselling book New York Times She also hosts a yearly online event, The Tapping World Summit, that has attracted more than one million attendees from around the world.The Tapping Solution for Weight Loss and Body Confidence. , Ms Ortner, according to her author's bio, teamed up with her brother Nick Ortner to produce the breakthrough documentary film on EFT/meridian tapping, The Tapping Solution Foundation following 12/14 to support exemplary humanitarian projects that promote the use of EFT/tapping for trauma and resiliency in disaster relief, medical care, education, business, government and community agencies, and meaningful community outreach initiatives. Appropriately, the foundation is Ms Ortner's recipient charity for funds raised through her Brookfield Dancing Stars competition.The Avielle Foundation as her recipient charity, and has established an individual fundraising crowd source website and a Facebook page where supporters can donate directly to the foundation in her name.Learn more and support Ms O'Neil and/or Ms Ortner by donating to their charities by clicking here and scrolling to their respective profiles.Tickets for the main event September 9 are $179 each and can be purchased at the Brookfield dance studio's website.

Terry O'Neil and Jessica Ortner were both excited to learn about the unique competition - unique in that even if either or both do not capture the top prize when all is danced and done, they will still have raised money for their causes through pre-event fundraising in the form of "people's choice" votes that come attached to donations of $10 or more designated for each respective participant's cause.

The two Newtown residents, along with other twinkle-toed contenders, have been working on polished choreographed routines, and will perform them with a professional partner at the September 9 gala in a competition mirroring the hit TV show

The cash prize represents any admission and other specific evening-of-event funds after costs to put on the competition, Ms O'Neil explained.

The Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Brookfield will be hosting the evening at the Amber Room Colonnade, 1 Stacey Road in Danbury, from 7 pm to midnight. Tickets to the gala include a VIP cocktail reception, a sit-down dinner, live and silent auctions, professional performances, and a live band.

and subsequently wrote the

She and bothers Nick and Alex established

Alex was the one who made the call to entice his sister into the competition.

"The last time I did any choreography I was this chubby little girl. I was probably 7 years old, and I absolutely hated it," Ms Ortner said in a YouTube video she is using to help raise funds for the contest. "So I'm open to having a new experience when it comes to dancing, and hopefully I won't trip over my feet."

Her instructor/partner is a dance instructor who goes by the name Toshko, and the pair will be dancing to the Kenny Loggins hit "Footloose."

Prior to her injury in 2008, Ms O'Neil was a competitive pro-am dancer.

"So it's like brand-new to me. I had to learn to dance all over again, as I had to do everything in life after an accidental fall on a patch of ice," she explained. "It wiped not only my mental memory, but muscle memory, too. I was a horse trainer and had ridden my whole life. And after the fall, I couldn't remember how to get on or off, I couldn't remember anything.

"I couldn't drive a car, and it put my attempt to test for my black belt to square one. When I went back, I didn't even know what a fighting stance was," she added. "Even the dance lessons are a challenge for my partner, because of occasional short-term memory loss."

Her partner is Marcel Helms, a Fred Astaire instructor. Ms O'Neil and Mr Helms have chosen to do a tango to the Survivor song "Eye of The Tiger."

She has chosen

As a brain injury survivor, Ms O'Neil was inspired by the organization commemorating 12/14 victim Avielle Richman. The foundation in part devotes research to identify risk factors that lead to violent and aggressive behaviors and protective factors that move us away from violence and toward compassion, kindness, connection, and resilience.

"I met Avielle's dad, Jeremy, at a Ragnar relay race to run for 12/14 victim Dylan Hockley," she said. "The next year I ran for Avielle. I love their message of understanding violence to end it as well as having a more connected compassionate community."

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